The folks who brought Curry in a Hurry to Little Rock are replacing that venture with Flavor of India, which has its grand opening on Thursday, July 9, in the Valley Village Shopping Center off Rodney Parham Road. Go on opening day before noon and you’ll get a $5 gift card; go anytime and get free appetizers and chai.
Flavor of India will be Little Rock’s first Indian restaurant to serve the cuisine of the southern part of the country, manager Sahil Hamirani said. He described the food as “snacky”: Food carts will feature chaat, or Indian street food, like pani puri (crispy fried rice balls stuffed with potatoes and served with coriander water). The fairly extensive menu also includes, for example, crepe-like dosas filled with lentils, rice, hot chutney; punugulu, or deep-fried lentil balls; and curd rice (mixed with yogurt, curry leaves and red chili), all served with sambal, or lentil soup, and coconut chutney. “It’s made really fresh,” Hamirani said. There’s northern Indian food on the menu as well — chicken tikka, etc.
Salma Hamirani, Sahil’s mother, is owner, he said. His father, Salim Hamirani, is chef, and will be joined by another chef from southern India in the future. The new venture will be open for lunch, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and dinner, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. There will be no alcohol at first, but perhaps later. Telephone is 554-5678; find Flavor of India’s menus and other information at facebook.com/flavorindia.